Ablation of graphite in water by Nd:YAG laser

Abstract

The phase composition and morphology of nano-dispersed carbon phases obtained by nanosecond laser ablation of microcrystalline graphite target immersed in water were investigated. The second (λSHG= 532 nm) and the third (λTHG= 355 nm) harmonics of a Nd:YAG laser system were used to produce different water colloids of carbon. The values of the laser fluence applied for both wavelengths under the experimental conditions chosen were varied from several J/cm2 to tens of J/cm2 . Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and SEM analyses were used to study the carbon target before and after laser treatment and the carbon colloids obtained. The study of the colloids is complemented through X-ray diffraction. A mix of different complex carbon phases and some hydrocarbon polymers (polystyrene predominantly) were found in the colloids.